Elastography of the Abdomen

摘要

Ultrasound elastography is a new technique that generates images based on the stiffness of tissue as opposed to anatomy. Many disease states have changes in stiffness that can be detected by elastography. Ultrasound elastography has been used to evaluate multiple organs.1'2 There are 2 elastography techniques presently available: strain elastography (SE) and shear wave (SWE) imaging.3-4 Focal liver masses have a mixed appearance on elastography, with a large overlap in the stiffness of benign and malignant lesion making characterization of focal liver masses problematic with elastography.5 However, diffuse liver disease, such as fibrosis, can be graded and monitored with SWE. Shear waves do not propagate in simple fluid.